Roberta Lou Valentine, 81, of Bernard, IA, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones on Saturday, August 2, 2025.  To honor Roberta’s life, a private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Roberta’s family.

Roberta was born on November 4, 1943, in Dubuque, IA, a daughter to Robert and Marguerite (Rosenthal) Ohnesorge.  She was one of eleven children and grew up in Dubuque, IA.  She attended Washington Jr. High School in Dubuque where she met the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” Valentine.

Roberta and Jerry were united in marriage on November 7, 1959, at Holy Family in Peosta.  Over the course of their 65 blessed years of marriage, Roberta and Jerry made many memorable memories from camping to going to a NASCAR race, but the best memories of all were made with their 8 children.

Roberta was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  Her heart was so big that she would never say no to helping others and opened her home to anyone who needed it.  Her love for caring for others lead her to taking care of so many around the Bernard area.

Roberta had a love for life’s simple blessings.  She loved to tend to her yard and garden and had quite a creative ability.  She loved to sew, paint and create anything she could.  One of her favorite things to create was a homemade Christmas ornament each year for each of her grandchildren.

Roberta was the heart of our family and truly enjoyed every moment she got to spend with her husband, Jerry, her kids, her grandchildren and especially her great-grandchildren.  They were the light of her life and she was ours.

Those left behind to cherish the memory of Roberta include,

her loving husband,
Jerry Valentine, Bernard, IA;

her eight children,
Tim Valentine, Monticello, IA,
Kevin Valentine, Worthington, IA,
Karen (Chuck) Denlinger, Dubuque, IA,
Rick (Linda) Valentine, Cascade, IA,
Carla (Alan) Johnson, Cascade, IA,
Danny (Anita) Valentine, Dubuque, IA,
Patty Starks, Dubuque, IA,
and Lisa (Al) Klostermann, Bernard, IA;

her 24 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren;

her sister,
Shirley Williams, Rockford, IL;

her brothers and sisters-in-law,
Mike (Nancy) Valentine,
Sheila Paul,
Jeanie Recker,
Tommy Valentine,
Hank Valentine,
Butch Valentine,
David (Phyllis) Valentine,
Greg (Cheryl) Valentine,
Terry Moore,
Paul Kramer,
Kenny Hansen,
Joyce Valentine,
and Lou Ann Valentine;

along with numerous extended family, friends, and neighbors.

Roberta was preceded in death by her parents; her in-law’s, Irvin (Lelia) Valentine; her grandson, Jeremy Valentine; her daughter-in-law, Laurie Valentine; her siblings, Rita Noel, Anita (Bob) White, Dick Kirsch, Dennis Ohnesorge, Steve Ohnesorge, Bruce Ohnesorge, Roger Ohnesorge, Bobbie Ohnesorge and Betty Furlong; along with her brothers and sisters-in-law, Lois Valentine, Arlene Moore, Janice Kramer, Bev Hansen, Terry Valentine, Kenny Valentine and Bob Paul.

Roberta’s family would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque and Ellen Rath of In Home Care Connections for all of their support during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, a Roberta L. Valentine memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be shared with Roberta’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com